Dr. Michael Wald’s List Of 30 Ways For Kids To Lose Weight

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By Dr. Michael Wald

obeseboyvectorbelly1. Identify and address psychological issues associated with eating too often and/or too much.

• Overweight adolescents are more likely than normal-weight children to be victims of bullying, or to be bullies themselves

• Adolescents are extremely reliant on peers for social support, identity and self-esteem

• Being overweight isolates adolescents from their peers

• Depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder could also result from overeating

2. Get sufficient sleep.

• Sleep allows an adolescent’s body to rest for the following day and is important for brain function, growth, and immune system strength

• When the body doesn’t have enough hours to rest, many consequences can occur such as:

– Feel tired or cranky

– Being unable to think clearly

– Having a hard time following directions

– Tasks that are normally easy seem hard

3. Be realistic about weight loss goals as weight loss does not happen overnight and weight loss efforts vary considerably among children and adults.

• Setting unrealistic goals may lead to frustration, and frustration may lead to giving up on goals all together

• Make a comprehensive plan that is gradual and easy to follow so that the child can feel accomplished!

4. Use music for motivation during exercise or to precipitate exercise.

• Exercising to music they like will make it more fun for your child so that they will be more likely to participate in exercise

5. Consider keeping a food and calorie log.

• This will make you, and your child, more aware of what they are eating, and how much they are eating

6. Get friends and family members to join in your exercise and healthy eating efforts.

7. Try and sweat a lot during exercise.

8. Exercise for 15-minute intervals each day.

9. Drink water before all meals.

• Doing this will help to fill the stomach, making your child less hungry

10. Don’t skip meals.

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all very IMPORTANT!

11. Do not NOT eat!

12. Kids should not attempt adult weight loss programs

13. Eliminate all soda

14. Eliminate all fruit juices

15. Switch from regular milk to fat free or 1-2% as a beverage or in cooking

16. Chew food thoroughly

17. Serve food on smaller plates

18. Do not eat fried foods.

• Eat baked and broiled foods instead

19. Replace refined carbohydrates with non-refined carbohydrates

20. Make a chart and reward your children for specific goals.

• Use a star chart with small rewards

21. Have your children drink lots of water as it promotes weight loss.

22. Remove all unhealthy foods from the house.

23. Encourage children to eat fruit as in-between snacks.

24. Cook healthy meals with your children

25. Avoid eating anything within 2 hrs of bedtime

• This will contribute more to weight gain as calories are burned more slowly in the evening.

26. Play at Bounce or another athletic facility on a regular basis.

27. Children should eat smaller portions of unhealthy foods (but not as a reward)

28. Find another sport that your child likes.

• Vary the activities for better results

29. Have your child do push-ups and sit ups everyday.

30. Create an exercise schedule that is reasonable for your child.

– Dr. Michael Wald, aka The Blood Detective, is the director of nutritional services at Integrated Medicine of Mount Kisco, located in Westchester New York. He has appeared on ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer, Channel 11 PIX, Channel 12 News, CNN, The Food Network and other media outlets. Dr. Wald earned the name Blood Detective for his reputation to find problems that are often missed by other doctors. He earned an MD degree, is a doctor of chiropractic and a certified dietician-nutritionist. He is also double-board certified in nutrition. He has published over a dozen books with three additional titles due for release late 2013 including: Frankenfoods – Genetically Modified Foods: Controversies, Lies & Your Health and Gluten-A-Holic: How to Live Gluten Free and the Blood Detective’s Longevity Secrets. Dr. Wald can be reached at: www.intmedny.com or www.blooddetective.com or by calling: 914-242-8844.